Portable device for sharpening the edges of a ski

ABSTRACT

A portable device for sharpening the edges of a ski is composed of a carriage equipped with first and second pressing means on the ski in lateral and transverse directions, and of a support mounted on the carriage and comprising fixing means of a machining unit. The fixing means enable translation of the machining unit with respect to the support in a first adjustment direction included in a lateral-transverse plane. The connecting means between the carriage and support enable on the one hand swivelling of the support through 90 degrees around a swivelling axis oriented in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the lateral-transverse plane, and on the other hand translation of the support in a second adjustment direction included in the lateral-transverse plane and perpendicular to the first adjustment direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a portable device for sharpening the edges of aski, each edge having a bottom face running along the base of the skiand a lateral face bordering its side, a device comprising a framehaving:

-   -   first means for pressing in a lateral direction designed to be        applied against the side, and second means for pressing in a        transverse direction designed to be applied against the base,    -   and fixing means of a machining unit comprising a tool that is        abrasive by rotation and a drive motor of the abrasive tool,        said means for fixing enabling translation of the machining unit        in a first adjustment direction included in the        lateral-transverse plane and coinciding with the axis of        rotation of the abrasive tool.

STATE OF THE ART

An edge is a suitable steel strip that runs along the base of a ski orof any other snow-riding means such as snowboards.

The edges have to be sharpened periodically to be able to perform theirfunction to the full. Fixed machines and portable machines exist toproceed with sharpening of the edges. The invention relates to a machineof the second category, with all the obvious advantages this representsfor the user.

The document CH661876 describes a portable device for sharpening an edgethat enables the lateral and bottom faces of the edge to be machined bysuccessively running the device over the whole length of the edge. Thedevice comprises a machining unit equipped with a tool that is abrasiveby rotation and with a drive motor of the tool, and a frame supportingthe machining unit and equipped with means for positioning on the ski.The means for positioning in particular comprise first and second meansfor pressing in two perpendicular directions designed to pressrespectively on the side and on the base of the ski. The frame is suchthat the only possible adjustments are that of the angle of attack ofthe abrasive tool and that of the depth of running. The latteradjustment results from a possibility of translation between themachining unit and frame in a fixed adjustment direction with respect tothe directions of the pressing means. Switching from the operation ofmachining the bottom face to the operation of machining the lateralface, or vice versa, is achieved by turning the whole device, includingthe frame.

Such a portable device does not circumvent the risk of machining theplastic material of the ski that constitutes the side or the base. Itfurther requires doubling-up of the pressing means: first and secondpressing means for machining the bottom face and first and secondpressing means for machining the lateral face. Furthermore, switchingover from the operation of machining one face of the edge to theoperation of machining the other face means that the positioning is lostresulting in risks of imprecision of the sharpening obtained.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention consists in providing a portable device forsharpening the edges of a ski that is simple and that enables the twofaces of an edge to be machined successively without any risk ofimprecision of the sharpening obtained, while at the same timecircumventing the risk of machining the plastic material of the ski.

The device according to the invention is remarkable in that the frame iscomposed of a carriage equipped with first and second pressing means,and with a support comprising said fixing means mounted on the carriageby connecting means having:

-   -   first means enabling the support to swivel through 90 degrees        around a swivelling axis oriented in a longitudinal direction of        the device perpendicular to the lateral-transverse plane,        between a first machining position of the lateral face and a        second machining position of the bottom face,    -   and second means enabling the support to be translated in a        second adjustment direction included in the lateral-transverse        plane and perpendicular to the first adjustment direction.

Further to rough adjustment of the angle of attack of the abrasive tool,swivelling of the support, and therefore of the machining unit, by meansof the fixing means enables the carriage to be left pressingsimultaneously against the side and against the base of the ski whenswitching from a machining operation of one face of the edge to amachining operation of the other face. This results in the positioningbeing kept thereby eliminating risks of imprecision of the sharpeningobtained. The ability of translation of the machining unit in twoperpendicular adjustment directions further provides a means foradjustment of the depth of running and a possibility of adjusting thepositioning of the abrasive tool so that the latter does not machine theplastic material of the ski.

According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting means comprise meansfor precise adjustment of the angular position of the support withrespect to the carriage around the swivelling axis in each of the firstand second positions. Such adjustment means enable the angle formed bythe bottom face of the edge with respect to the base of the ski aftermachining and the angle formed by the lateral face of the edge withrespect to the bottom face after machining to be adjusted more finely,depending on the applications.

Other technical features can be used either alone or in combination:

-   -   the connecting means comprise means for fine adjustment of the        position of the support with respect to the carriage in a second        adjustment direction in each of the first and second positions,    -   the fixing means comprise means for precise adjustment of the        position of the machining unit with respect to the support in        the first adjustment direction in each of the first and second        positions,    -   the connecting means are formed by a linear movement system        having a sliding part connected to the support and a guiding        part connected to a rotating part of a rotary system a fixed        part whereof is connected to the carriage,    -   the first pressing means comprise rollers designed to roll on        the side of the ski,    -   the second pressing means comprise rollers designed to roll on        the base of the ski.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from thefollowing description of a particular embodiment of the invention givenfor non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 represent an example of a sharpening device in a machiningsituation of a bottom face of an edge of a ski respectively inperspective and side view,

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a machiningsituation of a lateral face of the edge respectively in perspectiveview, laterally and transversely.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the present description, for reasons of simplification, the term“ski” will be used with a broad acceptation to designate both skis assuch and snowboards or other snow-riding means equipped with edges.

An example of a portable sharpening device 10 of the edges of a ski isrepresented in FIGS. 1 to 5 and is mainly composed of a frame 11 and amachining unit 12. Frame 11 is designed to perform guiding andpositioning of machining unit 12.

Machining unit 12 comprises an tool 13 that is abrasive by rotation anda drive motor of tool 13 of electric type supplied via the power grid orvia battery. Abrasive tool 13 is mounted in collinear manner on the axisof rotation of the motor by any suitable transmission system. The axisof rotation of abrasive tool 13 is noted X and coincides with the axisof rotation of the motor. The motor and transmission system are housedin a cylindrical housing 17 the axis of revolution of which coincideswith axis of rotation of X.

Frame 11 is composed of a carriage 15 designed to slide along the skiand of a support 16 supporting machining unit 12. Support 16 andcarriage 15 are assembled by connecting means, described further on,which provide possibilities of movement of support 16 with respect tocarriage 15.

Machining unit 12 is linked to support 16 by fixing means supported bysupport 16. For this purpose, support 16 is mainly formed by an assemblysocket 18 of cylindrical shape. The internal diameter of assembly socket18 enables housing 17 to be inserted axially inside assembly socket 18.Such an assembly enables machining unit 12 to be fixed onto support 16with a connection leaving machining unit 12 at least a degree of freedomin translation in the direction coinciding with axis of rotation X ofabrasive tool 13. Support 16 is also equipped with a reversiblemechanism for blocking translation of machining unit 12 in assemblysocket 18. The blocking mechanism is formed for example by a securingbolt 19 screwed radially into the thickness of assembly socket 18. Thehead of securing bolt 19 is placed outside assembly socket 18 so as tobe accessible manually, whereas the opposite end of the bolt applies asufficient radial force on housing 17 to block translation of machiningunit 12 in assembly socket 18 by friction. The mechanical link formed byassembly socket 18 combined with the reversible action of the securingmechanism constitute fixing means of machining unit 12 allowingtranslation of machining unit 12 in a first adjustment direction D1coinciding with axis of rotation X of abrasive tool 13.

The connecting means enabling support 16 to be mounted on carriage 15are formed by a linear movement system 20 having a sliding part 20 aconnected to support 16 and a guiding part 20 b connected to a rotatingpart (not shown) of a rotary system 21, a fixed part 20 a whereof isconnected to carriage 15. Linear movement system 20 and rotary system 21constitute the connecting means. The link between support 16 and slidingpart 20 a is achieved by fixing of a coupling member 22 provided salientfrom the external face of assembly socket 18. Fixing of coupling member22 onto sliding part 20 a can be performed by any suitable means, forexample using fixing screws (not shown). Sliding part 20 a and guidingpart 20 b can be formed for example by complementary profiles in theform of a dovetail. Linear movement system 20 comprises a first controlknob 20 c controlling movement of sliding part 20 a with respect toguiding part 20 b, which movement takes place in a straight slidingdirection that is perpendicular to first adjustment direction D1. Thisresults in connecting means between carriage 15 and support 16 havingmeans formed by system 20 enabling translation of support 16 in a secondadjustment direction, noted D2, that coincides with the straight slidingdirection. Second adjustment D2 is therefore perpendicular to firstadjustment direction D1.

Rotary system 21, the rotating part whereof is for example formed by anaxis screwed into guiding part 20 b of linear movement system 20,constitutes means enabling support 16 to swivel through 90 degreesaround a swivelling axis Y oriented in a longitudinal direction D3 ofportable sharpening device 10. The orientation of swivelling axis Y issuch that longitudinal direction D3 is simultaneously perpendicular tofirst and second adjustment directions D1 and D2. Rotary system 21comprises a second control knob 21 b controling swivelling of therotating part with respect to fixed part 21 a.

Carriage 15 is first composed of a plate 23 having two parallel faces 23a, 23 b, respectively bottom and top faces. Plate 23 comprises a firstseries of rollers 24, the axes of rotation of which are perpendicular tothe plane of plate 23 so as to be salient from one of the lateral facesof plate 23 in a manner aligned with one another. A second series ofrollers 25 is provided with axes of rotation parallel to the plane ofplate 23. Rollers 25 of the second series are arranged such as to besalient from bottom face 23 a while being coplanar with one another. Alateral face of plate 23 is a face joining bottom face 23 a and top face23 b. The number of lateral faces is variable according to the shape ofthe outline of plate 23.

Carriage 15 further comprises a fixing panel 26 rising upperpendicularly from top face 23 b of plate 23 perpendicularly tolongitudinal direction D3. The shape of the outline of fixing panel 26can be any shape. On the contour, fixing panel 26 is equipped with ahandle 27 located near to the top face 23 b of plate 23. Fixing panel 26is designed for fixing onto carriage 15 the above-mentioned connectingmeans. More precisely, fixed part 21 a of rotary system 21 is securedagainst one of the faces of fixing panel 26 by any suitable means, forexample by means of a tightening bolt 28 inserted via the opposite faceof fixing panel 26 and passing through the thickness of panel 26 throughan opening till being screwed into fixed part 21 a. Screwing of such atightening bolt 28 has the effect of creating sufficient tightening ofpanel 26 between the head of tightening bolt 28 and fixed part 21 a ofrotary system 21 to secure rotary system 21.

To perform sharpening of a ski edge, the lateral face and bottom face ofthe edge have to be machined independently from one another. These twosuccessive operations can be performed in any order. Both of theminvolve application of portable sharpening device 10 over the wholelength of the ski.

FIGS. 1 and 2 enable it to be understood how machining of the bottomface of an edge is performed. In addition to device 10 that has justbeen described, they show a ski 29 the base 29 a whereof is equippedwith at least one edge 30. Edge 30 has a bottom face 30 a running alongbase 29 a of the ski and a lateral face 30 b bordering a side 29 b ofski 29. Bottom face 30 a and lateral face 30 b join to form a cuttingedge.

To perform machining of bottom face 30 a of edge 30, ski 29 is arrangedon a baseplate that is not represented, with its base 29 a facingupwards. The drive motor being switched on, portable sharpening device10 is placed at one of the ends of to ski 29 applying the second seriesof rollers 25 against base 29 a and pressing first series of rollers 24against side 29 b, more precisely against lateral face 30 b of edge 30.Device 10 is then moved from one end of ski 29 to the other by means ofhandle 27.

This results in rollers 24 of the first series, designed to be appliedagainst and to run on side 29 b of ski 29, constituting first pressingmeans of carriage 15 in a lateral direction D4 of device 10. Incomplementary manner, when guiding of carriage 15 and therefore ofdevice 10 is performed, rollers 25 of the second series, designed to beapplied against and to run on base 29 a of ski 29, constitute secondpressing means of carriage 15 in a transverse direction D5 of device 10.Lateral and transverse directions D4, D5 are perpendicular to oneanother. The location of rollers 24, 25 and the orientation of fixingpanel 26 with respect to plate 23 are chosen such that lateral andtransverse directions D4, D5 are both perpendicular to longitudinaldirection D3. In other words, longitudinal direction D3 is perpendicularto a lateral-transverse plane including lateral and transversedirections D4, D5. Carriage 15 performs placing of device 10 in such away that direction D3 is parallel to ski 29.

As first and second adjustment directions D1 and D2 are perpendicular toone another and perpendicular to longitudinal direction D3, each offirst and second adjustment directions D1 and D2 is also included in thelateral-transverse plane, while at the same time being perpendicular tolongitudinal direction D3 and to the direction of ski 29.

In the particular example of FIGS. 1 and 2, abrasive tool 13 delivers awork called “envelope work”. Bottom face 30 a of edge 30 is machined bypunctual generation with a generating point digging a groove. Machiningunit 12 has to be arranged in support 16 in such a way that abrasivetool 13 protrudes out from assembly socket 18. Rotary system 21 isoperated by means of second control knob 21 b so as to orient support 16around swivelling axis Y, for axis of rotation X of abrasive tool 13 tobe perpendicular to bottom face 30 a of edge 30.

In such a configuration of device 10, translation of machining unit 12with respect to support 16 in a first adjustment direction D1,authorized by the fixing means of machining unit 12, enables the depthof running to be adjusted. In complementary manner, translation ofsupport 16 with respect to carriage 15 in the second adjustmentdirection D2, authorized by the connecting means between carriage 15 andsupport 16, enables axis of rotation X to be positioned laterally forthe generating point of abrasive tool 13 not to machine base 29 a of ski29. Swivelling of support 16 further enables rough adjustment of theangle formed between bottom face 30 a of edge 30 and base 29 a of ski 29after machining.

For complete sharpening of edge 30, lateral face 30 b of edge 30 alsohas to be machined (FIGS. 3 to 5). For this, rotary system 21 iscontrolled by means of second control knob 21 b so as to make support 16swivel around swivelling axis Y to orient it in such a way that axis ofrotation X of abrasive tool 13 is perpendicular to lateral face 30 b ofedge 30.

In such a configuration of device 10, translation of machining unit 12with respect to support 16 in first adjustment direction D1, authorizedby the fixing means of machining unit 12, enables the depth of runningto be adjusted. In complementary manner, translation of support 16 withrespect to carriage 15 in the second adjustment direction D2, authorizedby the connecting means between carriage 15 and support 16, enables axisof rotation X to be positioned transversely for the generating point ofabrasive tool 13 not to machine side 29 b of ski 29. Swivelling ofsupport 16 further enables rough adjustment of the angle formed betweenlateral face 30 b of edge 30 and side 29 b of ski 29 after machining.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the connecting means, inparticular rotary system 21, enable support 16 to be made to swivelaround its swivelling axis Y through an angle of 90 degrees between afirst position (FIGS. 3 to 5) for machining lateral face 30 b of edge 30and a second position (FIGS. 1 and 2) for machining bottom face 30 a ofedge 30. Swivelling of support 16, and therefore of machining unit 12,by means of the fixing means enables carriage 15 to be left pressingsimultaneously against side 29 b and against base 29 a of ski 29 whileswitching from a machining operation of a face 30 a, 30 b of edge 30 tothe machining operation of the other face 30 a, 30 b. This results inthe positioning being kept and the risks of imprecision of the obtainedsharpening being eliminated. The three-dimensional reference frameformed by directions D3 to D5 remains invariant with respect to carriage15 and to ski 29, whereas the pair of adjustment directions D1 and D2swivel with support 16.

To increase the precision of the angle obtained, after machining,between machined face 30 a, 30 b of edge 30 and respectively base 29 aand side 29 b of ski 29, the connecting means can comprise preciseadjustment means (not shown) of the angular position of support 16 withrespect to carriage 15 around swivelling axis Y in each of the first andsecond positions. Such precise adjustment means can advantageously beintegrated in rotary system 21. To increase the precision of the depthof running when machining a face 30 a, 30 b of edge 30, the fixing meanscan comprise precise adjustment means (not shown) of the position ofmachining unit 12 with respect to support 16 in first adjustmentdirection D1 in each of the first and second positions. Finally, toadjust finely the transverse or lateral positioning of axis of rotationX during machining of a face 30 a, 30 b of edge 30, the connecting meanscan comprise precise adjustment means (not shown) of the position ofsupport 16 with respect to carriage 15 in the second adjustmentdirection D2 in each of the first and second positions. Such preciseadjustment means can advantageously be integrated in linear movementsystem 20.

In an alternative embodiment, not represented, abrasive tool 13 deliversa work called “shaping work”. In each machining operation, face 30 a, 30b of edge 30 is machined by linear generation with a generating line.Rotary system 21 is controlled by means of second control knob 21 b soas to orient support 16 around swivelling axis Y so that axis ofrotation X of abrasive tool 13 is parallel to face 30 a, 30 b of edge 30to be machined.

In such a configuration of device 10, translation of machining unit 12with respect to support 16 in first adjustment direction D1, authorizedby fixing means of machining unit 12, enables abrasive tool 13 to bepositioned so that its generating line does not machine base 29 a orside 29 b of ski 29. In complementary manner, translation of support 16with respect to carriage 15 in second adjustment direction D2,authorized by the connecting means between carriage 15 and support 16,enables axis of rotation X to be positioned laterally or transversely toadjust the depth of running.

Thus, whatever the type of abrasive tool 13, the ability of translationof machining unit 12 in the two perpendicular adjustment directions D1,D2 gives a means for adjusting the depth of running and a possibility ofadjusting the positioning of abrasive tool 13 so that the latter doesnot machine the plastic material of ski 29 at the level of base 29 a orof side 29 b. Swivelling of support 16 further enables the angle formedbetween face 30 a, 30 b of edge 30 and respectively base 29 a or side 29b of ski 29 after machining to be adjusted.

1. Portable device for sharpening the edges of a ski, each edge having abottom face running along the base of the ski and a lateral facebordering its side, a device comprising a frame having: first pressingmeans in a lateral direction designed to be applied against the side,and second pressing means in a transverse direction designed to beapplied against the base, and fixing means of a machining unitcomprising an abrasive tool that is abrasive by rotation and a drivemotor of the abrasive tool, said fixing means authorizing translation ofthe machining unit in a first adjustment direction included in thelateral-transverse plane and coinciding with the axis of rotation of theabrasive tool, wherein the frame is composed of a carriage equipped withthe first and second pressing means, and with a support comprising saidfixing means, and mounted on the carriage by connecting means having:first means enabling swivelling of the support through 90 degrees arounda swivelling axis oriented in a longitudinal direction perpendicular tothe lateral-transverse plane, between a first machining position of thelateral face and a second machining position of the bottom face, andsecond means enabling translation of the support in a second adjustmentdirection included in the lateral-transverse plane and perpendicular tothe first adjustment direction.
 2. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe connecting means comprise means for precise adjustment of theangular position of the support with respect to the carriage around theswivelling axis in each of the first and second positions.
 3. Deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprise means forprecise adjustment of the position of the support with respect to thecarriage in the second adjustment direction in each of the first andsecond positions.
 4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the fixingmeans comprise means for precise adjustment of the position of themachining unit with respect to the support in the first adjustmentdirection in each of the first and second positions.
 5. Device accordingto claim 1, wherein the connecting means are formed by a linear movementsystem having a sliding part connected to the support and a guiding partconnected to a rotating part of a rotary system a fixed part whereof isconnected to the carriage.
 6. Device according to claim 1, wherein thefirst pressing means comprise rollers designed to roll on the side ofthe ski.
 7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the second pressingmeans comprise rollers designed to roll on the base of the ski.